hello there, welcome to "newsline." it's tuesday, may 12th. i'm catherine kobayashi in tokyo. police in japan have arrest lead the people on charges of illegally importing mushrooms from north korea. he was arrested at his residence on tuesday morning. his father is the chairman of the general association of korean residents in japan. police suspect he and two others imported nearly two tons of mushrooms from north korea in 2010. such an import would violent an

embargo japan imposed on all north korean products in 2006. the ban was in response to the north's nuclear test. in march japanese police raided the man's father in connection with similar charges. the man has close ties with the country's leadership. north korea reacted sharply to the raid accusing japan of trying to destroy relations. u.s. defense department officials have announced a plan to deploy a special operations squadron of aircraft in western tokyo. they will station osprey at the air base starting in 2017. it will be the first placement of the tilt-rotor aircraft outside of okinawa. the first three will arrive in the second half of 2017 and an additional seven are scheduled to be on base by 2021.

american leaders say the new deployment will increase the capability of u.s. special operations forces to quickly respond to crises and con tin generalsies in japan and the asia pacific region. the u.s. air force proposed sending them to oak that but the plan was reportedly scrapped due to strong opposition from the public in the southern prefecture. south korea defense minister says north korea has begun work on submarine and ballistic missile systems. he says both could be fully operational in four to five years. the north state-run media reports that a test firing from an off shore location was successful. hahn said pyongyang carried out the test to check whether missile launched from underwater can be sent above the surface. he confirmed the test was a success. defense officials in seoul plan

to boost submarine monitoring capabilities. they will also enhance their missile defense systems. response to the tests is likely to be on the agenda on tuesday when the south korean army's joint chief of staff meets with the commander of u.s. forces stationed in the country. euro zone finance ministers gathered to discuss the structural reforms greece is required to carry out for more loans. ai uchida joins us from the business desk. how did the talks go? >> as we have reported the ministers approved a four-month extension of the bailout package for greece in exchange for structural reform. they say they have made some progress in the talks but failed to reach a deal on the content of the reform. after the meeting eurozone chairman jeroen dijsselbloem

spoke to reporters. >> more time is needed to bridge the remaining gaps and reach a comprehensive agreement. >> the ministers say they saw progress on the issues such as an increase in the value-added tax and improvement of the taxation system but they were unable to agree on a reduction in pension payments or labor market deregulation. the country's financial situation is very severe. he said the structural reform plan should not put too much pressure on the lives of poor people. the next meeting has not been scheduled but the ministers aim to reach a deal within the coming weeks. let's see how investors are reacting to develops. your european markets reversed their trends. u.s. share prices also slid as investors took profits. the dow jones industrial average

declining .4% closing just above 18,100 and the nasdaq is down .2%. let's see how markets in japan are reacting. we are joined by ramin mellegard at the tokyo stock exchange. what are you seeing this tuesday morning? >> good morning, ai. we are seeing investors taking a note from the selloff we saw in the u.s. with the nikkei slightly lower and the dollar, however is in the 120-yen range. let's have a look at how the nikkei and topix are kicking off tuesday may 12th. the nikkei is lower and the topix is up .1%. the nikkei may be supported by the view the u.s. economy is on a path to recovery and shares may also be supported after china cut key rates for a third time in six months in a bid to shore up its committee. the question is when will the

u.s. raise its key interest rates and if further economic stimulus measures may come from china. head winds remain with regards to greece as finance ministers met yet again to discuss funding for greece. and let's not forget asian markets may be a big focus. shanghai composite was the star performer and that jumped up 3% after the rate cut by the central bank bouncing back after falling over 5%. let's not forget last week. earnings reports in japan will also be a focus. i'll come to those in a second. >> we did see a move higher in the dollar. where is that trading now? >> the dollar just jumped a little bit against the yen. let's have a look now. 120.11. and yields on the u.s. ten-year treasury note boosted the dollar and pushed down crude oil prices that weighed on the global indexes. the dollar is higher against the

euro which is suffering due to a lack of progress in the debt talks for greece. earnings reports will be a focus after the shock that we got from toshiba on monday. the company is going to withdraw its earnings forecast and not pay any dividends after irregularities in accounting proceeds. softbank came out with net profit with a record of 28% increase from a year earlier. another mobile phone giant here kddi is due to report earnings among many other names. we'll keep track of that and i'll have another report in a couple of hours to see how the shares have been trading. back to you. >> talk to you then ramin mellegard from the tokyo stock exchange where the nikkei and topix are down this morning.

jcb is teaming up with a leading bank in indonesia. they want to expand their operations in the market. executives from jvb and bank manderi signed the deal on monday. jcb is targeting the country's wealthy and has issued 100,000 cards there so far. they say the tie up will increase the number of stores that accept the cards to 400,000 by year end. a rise of 50%. they want to boost the company's market share by offering more rewards to credit card holders. people in japan have appreciated the craft of bonsai for centuries but growing the trees requires a lot of work and the number of enthusiasts is declining. now some are looking to cultivate new interest by

turning they attention overseas. >> reporter: an export company has been making an appeal to foreigners by inviting them on bonsai themed tours. the first stop was a bonsai museum in saitama prefecture north of tokyo. the museum features 70 trees crafted in the traditional style. this is the first time they have seen so many high-end bonsai. this pine tree is thought to be about 500 years old. this great bonsai is one of the largest in this museum's collection. >> yeah very very amazing. i'm quite overwhelmed. >> reporter: the highlight of the tour is an opportunity to meet a world-famous craftsman.

this is one of his masterpiece called "dancing dragon." kimura developed special machines to shape the winding trunk with intricate curves. last year alone, visitors from 30 countries took part in the tour. it's contributing to a growing interest in bonsai and a boost in exports. >> do you have one favorite tree? too hard? [ speaking foreign language ]. >> very very beautiful and, yeah, it's something you can only dream about having a collection like this. definitely recommend it to other people.

>> translator: when people who take the tour get back home they talk about the charms of bonsai. that helps in our effort to promote it abroad. >> reporter: as bonsai gains popularity around the world, exports are steadily increasing. last year this company in saitama shipped 8,000 trees to 11 countries and territories, including europe, china, and south korea. some of the bonsai sold more more than $20,000. company officials are looking to reach even more markets by offering plants suited to various climates. olive trees are native to the mediterranean. this one stands just 40 centimeters tall but its trunk is thick and stout. this tropical plant is called

bough vil yeah. they hope to sell it in asia and africa. >> translator: i want to start exporting to those markets. we plan to cultivate more trees of foreign origin for that purpose. >> reporter: creating bonsai requires much time and patience. in the same way, increasing the number of bonsai fans around the world will be a long-term effort. >> that is the latest in business for this hour. i'll be back next hour with more of your headlines. here's another check on markets.

a new study shows that ebola may be harder to beat than previously thought. it claims that the virus can still be found on patients who have recovered from the disease. the world health organization reports that many survivors continue to face health problems even after blood tests have shown them to be free of the virus. some have complained of poor eyesight, severe pain, fatigue, and memory loss. w.h.o. officials call the symptoms post-ebola syndrome. they have yet to determine the cause. a u.s. medical magazine reports researchers have detected the virus in the eye of an american ebola survivor. the patient had complained of eyesight problems. a japanese medical expert says the study proves the virus can remain in the body for a long time. >> translator: medical professionals have put all of their energy into controlling the spread of ebola.

they haven't paid much attention to the symptoms of individual patients or to the long-term effects on survivors. >> the researchers say it is not possible for the virus to spread through contact with survivors, but people in west africa who have recovered from the disease continue to face discrimination. turkey's prime minister has entered syria without permission from its government. he visited the tomb of the grandfather of the founder of the ottoman empire. the syrian government has condemned the move as an act of aggression. the prime minister paid a surprise visit to the tomb of suleyman shah in northern syria. the tomb was originally in a turkish enclave in the country, but turkey's military carried out a cross-border operation in february to relocate the tomb within syria to protect it as islamic state militants stepped up their offensive in the area. syria's government strongly opposes the move. it called the prime minister's entry without permission a

serious violation of international law and a clear act of aggression. the prime minister apparently used the visit to demonstrate his stance on becoming actively engaged in syrian issues. turkey plans to train syrian anti-government forces with the u.s. military. observers expect the confrontation between turkey and syria to escalate. the vietnam war ended 40 years ago. the result was a huge setback in u.s. influence in the asia-pacific region. it took 20 years for the u.s. and vietnam to normalize diplomatic ties in 1995. another 20 years later, their relationship is flourishing. nhk world's -- shimizu has more. >> reporter: vietnam's largest garment manufacturer has its base in

hoe chi minh city. it employs 35,000 people. the number one export destination is the united states. -- is the deputy chairman of the vietnam textile association. he says during the vietnam war, he fought against the united states. he help build the ho chi minh trail, a network of supply routes delivering weapons, food, and equipment from north vietnam to antigovernment forces in the south. he survived numerous u.s. air raids. >> translator: we disposed of bombs while single mindedly constructing the trail. back then, my mind was filled with nothing but hatred for america.

>> reporter: after the war, having shed his military uniform, truong's anger gradually faded as he forged business partnerships with american firms. >> translator: the americans supported us in various ways, from management, to production control. after vietnam and the united states normalized diplomatic relations, we were no longer enemies. our relations have improved to those of friends, then partners. >> reporter: the war veteran hopes to expand the scope of his business with u.s. firms. his company is building four new factories in the suburbs of ho chi minh city and plans to recruit 15,000 new employees. vietnam and the united states are strengthening military ties, too.

last month in vietnam, their navies held joint exercises for the sixth time. the u.s. side was headed by -- deputy commander of a navy destroyer squadron. a vietnamese-american, his family sought refuge in the u.s. when he was five years old. >> personally great for me to be back in vietnam. we're very much looking forward to the cooperation, the exchanges that will take place over the next five days. >> reporter: the warming of u.s.-vietnam military ties comes amid china's active presence in the south china sea. vietnam can't hope too much china's growing military clout without u.s. support. for washington's part, it needs allies to maintain its influence in the asia-pacific region.

it believes a stronger vietnamese military could counterbalance china and improve stability. 40 years have passed since the vietnam war ended. former enemies, vietnam and the united states are looking towards a new era as economic partners and military allies. kazuo shimizu, nhk world, ho chi minh city. some visitors to kyoto are not just looking at ancient buildings and learning about the past they are also making a little history of their own by turning their visits into a lasting memory. >> reporter: this is not a

wedding or a fashion shoot. it's a little bit of both. this couple from hong kong have come to kyoto ahead of their big day to be photographed among the cherry blossoms. >> i feel good and the weather is very nice now. and city is very pretty. and it's historical buildings nearby. >> reporter: kyoto's historic beauty makes it perfect for this wedding tourism. the prefectural government offers special services to couples planning events. >> translator: there are many fashions that japanese people may find hard to imagine but appeals to customers abroad. times have changed. we must try many different things. [ speaking foreign language ]. >> reporter: of all of kyoto's new wedding packages this one

may be the most unusual. a bride poses in a traditional garden. there is no groom. the customers for this service are given a wedding dress to wear. a professional photographer takes their picture. the package is called the solo wedding. it's the brain child of a kyoto travel agency. the staff who work here are all female. they started by offering other women-only packages. nom are more novel than others. this service is heart break taxi. for a fee, customers can vent their sorrows to cab drivers who take them to sites famous for their healing powers. the company launched the solo wedding package in june last year. >> translator: some women who are not married continue to dream about wearing a wedding dress. so we thought we'd provide them with this opportunity. >> reporter: this 37-year-old woman from tokyo has come to

kyoto to fulfill her dream of wearing a white wedding dress. [ speaking foreign language ]. the two-day package costs about $3,000. it includes an overnight stay dress rental makeup and a photo session. the company says over 50 women have signed up for solo wedding so far and inquiries are coming from overseas. >> translator: these two days were just wonderful. the staff worked very hard. they gave me every service i could have imagined and made me feel like a princess. >> translator: i think our customers are happy with the feeling of going somewhere special and also the experience of transforming themselves. >> reporter: kyoto is already a major tourist spots but weddings

add a new twist to sightseeing. >> let's hope the weather cooperates this week. mai shoji joins us with the latest in weather. >> unfortunately the weather won't be cooperating in the kansai district and the pacific side of japan. we are tracking a couple of tropical storm systems. this one is going to be affecting the marshall islands and possibly into gaum. this is dolphin. and this is the system we have been tracking typhoon noul which is going to be pulling into the northern areas of okinawa. it is now effecting the islands of okinawa and look at these figures. gusts up to -- let's take a look at the video now. typhoon noul whipped through okinawa prefecture this morning. a few areas have seen evacuations of over 1,300 people

and volunteer emergency shelters were set up for residents across the islands. the infrastructure in okinawa are built for typhoons and by late morning most of the islands will be back to normal. these are the digits we have been seeing. wind gusts reaching up to 211 kilometers per hour. much of the islands in the southwestern includes included 146 kilometers per hour and rainfall amounts topping as much as 143 in a three-hour span. that set a record for the month of may. where we want that rainfall in taiwan because parts of these areas are feeling a drought, we only received 60 millimeters. but enough in the islands of okinawa to become flooded and landslides are all going to be some risks. 180 kilometer per hour winds are still likely and waves up to 8 meters high.

it will quickly decrease in intensity. however it is kpas per ating the situation because we have a system in northeastern china pulling this active cold front, activated from this noul and it has dropped 440 millimeters of rainfall in south korea. that's going to be covering much of japan as it pulls in this evening. the situation is going to get worse. we are going to be seeing about 180 millimeters of rainfall and widely 100 to 150 millimeters of rainfall into just next morning. so there's going to be some landslide risk, flooding gusts, and even tornados that cannot be ruled out. this is dolphin i did mention from that satellite image. the gusts up to 126 kilometers per hour. it may develop over the warm ours. it could move over

well-populated areas such as guam. we have a high pressure system in eastern china bringing dry and very warm conditions. take a look at these temperatures. beijing reaching 28 degrees. chongqing at 29 degrees. another system will be effecting seoul another round of thunderstorms and showers across your area. out here in europe now we have been seeing 3 centimeters diameter hail in greece and the hail built up to 3 centimeters. unstable conditions in this area is likely to continue. we are seeing wet and windy conditions in the british isles. but the main topic today will be in the west where seville is reaching 37 degrees. that is more than 20 degrees above the average. i'll leave you now for your extended forecast.

that wraps up this edition of "newsline." i'm catherine kobayashi in tokyo. thanks for staying with us.

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host: welcome to euromaxx highlights. thanks for joining us. we have put together the best bits of the week for you. let's have a look at the top stories coming up. home style. the milan furniture fair shows the latest trends in interior design. healthy option. more and more people like to eat well during their lunch breaks.

worlds apart. a london-based company is making handmade, high-quality globes. the worlds largest furniture and design fair finishes up this weekend. it is showcasing the latest interior design trends and keeping up with what's hot and whats not. and it looks like the somber cool looking creations are being replaced with what is being